Notebook: Braves Boyer sent to Richmond

Posted: Monday, March 26, 2007

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - With one more hopeful trimmed from big league camp Sunday, the Atlanta Braves bullpen picture appears to be coming more and more into focus.

Right-hander Blaine Boyer pitched well enough in his five outings to earn a spot in the 'pen, but manager Bobby Cox and others think he needs more innings to prove he is back from last year's shoulder surgery.

"We want to get Boyer down and get hima lot of innings," Cox said of Boyer, assigned to Triple-A Richmond. "Yeah, he just needs to catch up a little."

Cox said he'd like to see Boyer get some two-inning outings in the minors so he can work up his arm strength and work on his array of pitches. For now, though, there are no plans to put him in Richmond's rotation.

Inhis five spring appearances, Boyer, the 25-year-old from Atlanta, allowed a run in seven innings (1.29 ERA). He worked a perfect inning Saturday, needing just six pitches to breeze past Cleveland.

Boyer should be up at some point this year. Prior to the shoulder problems, just a spring ago, Boyer was in line to become the team's primary setup man.

Boyer said recently thathe would be OK with Richmond, just so long as he proved to be healthy.

"That's been my big thing," he said. "As long as I'm healthy, I've got a good chance to be here at some point. If I don't start out after spring training then I'll be there soon. I know I can pitch. I know what I can do when I'm healthy."

With Boyer out of the immediate equation, it looks like Tyler Yates will nab the final bullpen spot. It was probably Yates' slot all along, but he hasn't exactly impressed by allowing five runs on seven hits in his past five outings. The right-hander lost Saturday, giving up a two-run homer to Cleveland's Ryan Garko.

First baseman Scott Thorman stayed hot at the plate in the wake of the birth of his first child, Robert.

In addition to a rare stolen base, Thorman had a pair of singles Sunday to up his spring average, after an icy start, to .286.

Thorman is 8-for-19 (.421) with a double, triple and homer in his past five games.

"I guess my swing is beginning to thaw out," the Canadian joked earlier this week.

Thorman's two hits Sunday came against left-handers, but he still might not be able to avoid an eventualplatoon situation with free agent Craig Wilson.

Cox phrased it this way Saturday in talking with a national baseball reporter: "Wilson will be over at first some with Thorman."

The plan coming into camp was for Wilson to spend most of his time in left field, but his arthritic shoulder hasn't allowed him to play too much in the outfield this spring.

Bohn joins Boyer

Outfielder T.J. Bohn was also sent to the minor league side of camp, re-assigned to Class AAA Richmond. Cox was very complimentary of what he saw in Bohn, signed in the winter from Seattle.

"He is a smooth, smooth outfielder," Cox said. "You don't worry one minute with him out there."

Cox said Bohn just needs to get his bat up to par with his glove. After a slow start, Bohn never recovered, hitting .222 (8-for-36) in 21 games.

Chipper ready to start

Coming off the side injury that kept him out earlier in the week, Chipper Jones looks like he's ready for the season to begin immediately.

The third baseman smacked his second homer in as many days Sunday, crushing a Matt Chico pitch that hit halfway up the batter's eye in center field at Disney for a two-run shot in Atlanta's win.

Since returning Thursday, Jones has an extra-base hit every day - two doubles, two homers - and is 5-for-11 overall.

"Chipper's on fire," Cox said. "He looks good and nothing's sore."

Jones said he's feeling good from both sides of the plate for the first time this spring.

Johnson cut

Cox said he isn't for certain, but he thinks reliever Jonathan Johnson will accept his assignment to Class AAA Richmond.

Johnson, cut from camp Saturday, is a 33-year-old journeyman who was out of the game for three years before the Braves brought him into their organization last summer.

Johnson went 0-3 with an 11.88 ERA in five games this spring, one of the only poor performers on Atlanta's springstaff.

Cormier gets nod

Cox said likely fourth starter Lance Cormier will start Saturday's home exhibition against the White Sox and will be followed by fifth starter Mark Redman. The Braves were considering letting Redman throw Sunday, the off day before the season begins in Philadelphia.